An NBA-FIBA crossover league could be worth the risk

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has been one of the most proactive authority figures in recent sports history. Under his watch, the league introduced the concept of a play-in tournament, an in-season tournament, embraced the betting industry, expanded the game into Africa and even launched an esports league. The New York native hasn't been shy of taking a risk or two.

Silver is again tinkering with ideas to take the NBA to uncharted places. During his stay in France for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the NBA boss has discussed a potential crossover league with executives from FIBA, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press .

The report quoted Silver saying that the NBA is "ramping up" talks with FIBA about "an annual tournament or an NBA-operated league" in Europe. However, he made it clear the talks are still in their infant stages, and an NBA-FIBA crossover league isn't imminent by any means.

If the plan is to create an NBA-operated league in Europe — ala the NBA Africa initiative — it's a low-risk, high-reward move. The NBA could unearth talents from Greece, Serbia, Latvia and other regions and give those youngsters the best facilities and coaches. The league could also become a farm system to funnel players into the NBA, similar to what Barcelona did with Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.

On the flip side, a crossover league sounds like a risky proposition. Will the games be contested in NBA or FIBA rules? Will NBA players be willing to spend their offseasons playing in Europe?

The NBA is already in the consciousness of hoops fans for at least nine months a year, with July, August and September being the only months devoid of any on-court action. Even in the offseason, the NBA Draft and free agency keep fans engaged with the product.

Could a European crossover be an overkill?

Perhaps. But it could be worth the dice roll. If the experiment fails, Silver will likely dump it and move on to his next brainchild.

To his credit, Silver has been a hands-on commissioner willing to take the blame for a failed experiment — the All-Star Draft and the NBA Awards each lasted a few years before they were scrapped.

The first part of that NBA vs. FIBA experiment could start with next year's All-Star game, which would pit players from Team USA against the rest of the world. Talks of such a game have intensified recently.